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List of Formula One constructors facts for kids

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Formula One, or F1, is the top level of open-wheel car racing. It's set up by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which is the main group for motorsports around the world. The word "formula" means there are special rules that all teams and cars must follow.

Each year, there's an F1 World Championship season. This includes many races called Grands Prix. These races usually happen on special tracks built for racing. Sometimes, they even take place on closed-off city streets.

Teams, known as constructors, earn points based on how well their two drivers finish in each Grand Prix. The constructor with the most points at the end of the season wins the World Constructors' Champion title. Since the first World Championship race in 1950, over 170 different constructors have competed in F1.

A constructor is a company or group that designs important parts of a Formula One car. These parts include the main safety cell, the front crash structure, roll bars, and the car's body. Since 1981, each team must own the rights to these key car parts.

Ferrari is the most successful constructor. They have won the most Constructors' Championships (16) and Drivers' Championships (15). Ferrari also holds records for the most wins, pole positions, points, and podium finishes. They have entered and started more Grands Prix than any other constructor. The newest team to join F1 is RB, which started racing in 2024.

What Do "Constructor" and "Team" Mean?

In Formula One, the words "constructor" and "team" have special meanings. A "team" is the group that enters a car and driver into a race. They are in charge of getting the car ready and taking care of it during the race weekend. Because of this, people often call the team the "entrant."

What is a Constructor?

Formula One constructors' championship trophy 2012-2013 Red Bull Racing
The Constructors' Championship trophy, awarded to the winning team.

The FIA rules say that a constructor is the group that designs the main parts of the car. These parts include the safety cell, front crash structure, roll bars, and bodywork. If the car's main body (chassis) and engine are made by different companies, both names are used for the constructor. For example, McLaren-Mercedes means McLaren made the chassis and Mercedes made the engine.

If a team uses different engines with the same chassis, they are counted as separate constructors. This happened in 1985 with the Tyrrell team. They used both Ford and Renault engines. So, they were counted as Tyrrell-Ford and Tyrrell-Renault, and each scored points separately.

The World Constructors' Championship started in 1958. From 1958 to 1978, only the highest-scoring driver from each constructor counted towards the championship points. But since 1979, points from all cars entered by a constructor count towards their total.

What is a Team?

Since 1981, the FIA has required that F1 teams own the design rights to the car's chassis they race. This made the difference between "team" and "constructor" less confusing. However, the engine rights can still belong to a different company.

Before 1981, constructors could sell their car designs to other teams. For example, Brabham and Lotus cars were often used by other teams in the 1960s and 1970s. Some private teams, like Rob Walker Racing Team, never built their own cars but were very successful.

Sometimes, a special company that isn't in the championship designs a car for a team. For instance, Lola built cars for the Larrousse team from 1987 to 1991.

From 1973 to 2013, each team had permanent racing numbers for their cars. These numbers were based on how well the team finished in the previous year's Constructors' Championship. If a driver won the World Drivers' Championship, their team would get numbers 1 and 2 for the next season. Since 2014, racing numbers are given to individual drivers, not teams.

In the early days of F1, teams could enter many cars. But since 1963, teams have usually been allowed to enter only two regular cars. Since 1985, the FIA has required teams to enter no more than two cars per race.

Team's Nationality

Drivers race under the nationality of their passport. But F1 teams race under the nationality of the National Automobile Club that gave them their racing license. Most F1 teams are based in the UK, but they might have a license from another country.

Teams can change their nationality if they get a new license. For example, Shadow changed from American to British in 1976. The team's nationality also decides which national anthem is played for a winning team on the podium after a race.

Before 1968, when sponsorships became common, a team's nationality also decided the color of their cars. Italian cars were red, French cars were blue, and British cars were often green. Private teams would paint their cars in their home country's color, even if the car was built by a constructor from another country.

Sometimes, mistakes have happened with team nationalities. For example, the British national anthem was played for the Irish-licensed Jordan team and the Austrian-licensed Red Bull team when they won their first races.

Current Constructors for 2024

Here are the constructors racing in the 2024 Formula One season:

Constructor Engine Licensed in Based in Seasons Races Entered Races Started Drivers Total Entries Wins Points Poles FL Podiums WCC WDC Antecedent teams
Alpine Renault  France  United Kingdom 2021–present 0 0 United Kingdom Toleman (1981–1985), United Kingdom/Italy Benetton (1986–2001), France/United Kingdom Renault (2002–2011, 2016–2020), United Kingdom Lotus (2012–2015)
Aston Martin Mercedes  United Kingdom  United Kingdom 19591960,
2021–present
0 0 Republic of Ireland Jordan (1991–2005), Russia Midland (2006), Netherlands Spyker (2007), India Force India (2008–2018), United Kingdom Force India (2018), United Kingdom Racing Point (2019–2020)
Ferrari Ferrari  Italy  Italy 1950–present 1010 1008 80 2148 238 8388.5 228 254 773 16 15
Haas Ferrari  United States  United States
 United Kingdom
2016–present 100 100 4 200 0 200 0 2 0 0 0
McLaren Mercedes  United Kingdom  United Kingdom 1966–present 884 880 50 1837 182 5555.5 155 158 488 8 12
Mercedes Mercedes  Germany  United Kingdom 19541955,
2010–present
227 227 12 466 115 5685 127 84 236 8 9 United Kingdom Tyrrell (1970–1998), United Kingdom BAR (1999–2005), Japan Honda (2006–2008), United Kingdom Brawn (2009)
RB Honda RBPT  Italy  Italy 2024 0 0 Italy Minardi (1985–2005),
Italy Toro Rosso (2006–2019)
Italy AlphaTauri (2020–2023)
Red Bull Honda RBPT  Austria  United Kingdom 2005–present 304 303 10 605 64 5043.5 63 68 182 6 7 United Kingdom Stewart (1997–1999), United Kingdom Jaguar (2000–2004)
Sauber/
BMW Sauber/
Kick Sauber
Ferrari  Switzerland  Switzerland 19932018, 2024 465 462 30 902 1 865 1 5 26 0 0 Switzerland Alfa Romeo (2019–2023)
Williams Mercedes  United Kingdom  United Kingdom 1978–present 737 736 44 1393 114 3561 128 133 312 9 7

Former Constructors

Many constructors have competed in Formula One over the years. Here are some of them:

Constructor Licensed in Seasons Races Entered Races Started Drivers Total Entries Wins Points Poles FL Podiums WCC WDC
Alex von Falkenhausen Motorenbau  Germany 19521953 4 4 5 7 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Automobiles Gonfaronnaises Sportives (AGS)  France 19861991 80 32 10 124 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Alfa Romeo  Italy,
 Switzerland
19501951, 19791985, 20192023 148 148 20 311 10 115 12 14 26 0 2
Alfa Special  South Africa 1963, 1965 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AlphaTauri  Italy 20202023 17 17 2 34 1 107 0 0 1 0 0
Alta  United Kingdom 19501952 5 5 4 6 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Amon  New Zealand 1974 4 1 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Andrea Moda  Italy 1992 12 1 4 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Apollon  Switzerland 1977 5 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arrows  United Kingdom 19782002 394 383 36 783 0 167 1 0 8 0 0
Arzani-Volpini  Italy 1955 1 0 1 1 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Aston Butterworth  United Kingdom 1952 4 1 2 4 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Automobili Turismo e Sport  Italy 1963 6 6 3 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Auto Technisches Spezialzubehör (ATS)  Germany 19771984 107 89 15 146 0 7 0 0 0 0 0
British American Racing  United Kingdom 19992005 118 116 7 236 0 227 2 0 15 0 0
Behra-Porsche  Germany 19591960 4 2 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bellasi  Switzerland 19701971 6 2 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Benetton  United Kingdom,
 Italy
19862001 260 260 17 520 27 851.5 15 36 102 1 2
Boro  Netherlands 19761977 8 6 4 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Brabham  United Kingdom 19621987, 19891992 403 394 39 995 35 843 39 41 124 2 4
Brawn GP  United Kingdom 2009 17 17 2 34 8 172 5 4 15 1 1
British Racing Motors  United Kingdom 1951, 19561977 208 197 71 559 17 385 11 15 61 1 1
British Racing Partnership  United Kingdom 19631964 13 13 2 19 0 11 0 0 0 0 0
Bugatti  France 1956 1 1 1 1 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Caterham  Malaysia 20122014 56 56 8 112 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cisitalia  Italy 1952 1 0 1 1 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Coloni  Italy 19871991 65 13 8 81 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Connaught  United Kingdom 19521959 18 17 29 52 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Connew  United Kingdom 1972 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cooper Car Company  United Kingdom 1950, 19521969 129 129 111 528 16 301 11 14 58 2 2
Dallara  Italy 19881992 80 78 6 144 0 15 0 0 2 0 0
De Tomaso  Italy 19611963, 1970 15 10 8 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Eagle (Anglo American Racers)  United States 19661969 26 26 7 35 1 17 0 2 2 0 0
Eifelland  Germany 1972 8 8 1 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Emeryson  United Kingdom 1956, 19611962 6 4 6 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Eisenacher Motorenwerk  East Germany 1953 1 1 1 1 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Ecurie Nationale Belge  Belgium 1962 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ensign  United Kingdom 19731982 134 98 25 154 0 19 0 1 0 0 0
English Racing Automobiles  United Kingdom 19501952 7 7 7 12 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
EuroBrun  Italy 19881990 46 15 5 76 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ferguson Research Ltd.  United Kingdom 1961 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FIRST  Italy 1989 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fittipaldi Automotive (Copersucar)  Brazil 19751982 120 103 8 156 0 44 0 0 3 0 0
Fondmetal  Italy 19911992 29 19 4 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Force India (Sahara)  India 20082018 203 203 7 406 0 987 1 5 6 0 0
Forti  Italy 19951996 28 23 4 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Frank Williams Racing Cars  United Kingdom 19721976 61 56 25 112 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
Frazer-Nash  United Kingdom 1952 4 4 2 4 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Fry  United Kingdom 1959 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gilby Engineering  United Kingdom 19611963 6 3 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gordini  France 19521956 33 33 23 101 0 n/a 0 1 2 n/a 0
Greifzu  East Germany 1953 1 1 1 1 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Hesketh  United Kingdom 19741978 60 52 15 97 1 48 0 1 7 0 0
Hill  United Kingdom 1975 11 10 6 21 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
HRT (Hispania Racing Team)  Spain 20102012 58 56 8 116 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Honda  Japan 19641968, 20062008 88 88 8 154 3 154 2 2 9 0 0
HWM (Hersham and Walton Motors)  United Kingdom 19511955 16 14 15 48 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Jaguar  United Kingdom 20002004 85 85 8 170 0 49 0 0 2 0 0
JBW  United Kingdom 19591961 6 5 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jordan  Ireland 19912005 250 250 30 500 4 291 2 2 19 0 0
Kauhsen  Germany 1979 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Klenk  Germany 1954 1 1 1 1 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Kojima  Japan 19761977 2 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kurtis  United States 1959 12 12 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Lambo (Modena Team)  Italy 1991 16 6 2 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Lancia  Italy 19541955 4 4 4 10 0 n/a 2 1 1 n/a 0
Larrousse  France 19931994 32 32 7 64 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
LDS  South Africa 19621963, 1965, 19671968 5 5 3 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LEC  United Kingdom 1977 5 3 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Leyton House  United Kingdom 19901991 32 30 3 64 0 8 0 0 1 0 0
Life  Italy 1990 14 0 2 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ligier/Talbot Ligier  France 19761996 332 326 28 612 9 388 9 10 50 0 0
Lola  United Kingdom 19621963, 19671968, 19741975, 19851991, 1993, 1997 152 146 27 280 0 45 1 0 3 0 0
Lotus (1958–1994)  United Kingdom 19581994 491 489 122 1332 79 1332 107 70 172 7 6
Lotus (2010–2011)  Malaysia 20102011 38 38 3 76 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Lotus (2012–2015)  United Kingdom 20122015 77 77 5 154 2 706 0 5 25 0 0
Lyncar  United Kingdom 19741975 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Maki  Japan 19741976 8 0 3 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Manor  United Kingdom 2016 21 21 3 42 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
March  United Kingdom 19701977, 19811982, 19871989, 1992 208 197 54 579 3 172.5 5 7 21 0 0
Martini  France 1978 9 4 1 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Marussia  Russia,
 United Kingdom
20122015 74 73 7 144 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Maserati  Italy 19501960 77 70 106 423 9 9 10 15 37 0 2
Matra  France 19671972 61 61 5 117 9 163 4 12 21 1 1
MBM  Switzerland 1961 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
McGuire  Australia 1977 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Merzario  Italy 19781979 31 10 3 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Midland  Russia 2006 18 18 2 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Milano  Italy 1950 1 0 1 1 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Minardi  Italy 19852005 346 340 42 676 0 38 0 0 0 0 0
Onyx  United Kingdom 19891990 26 17 6 52 0 6 0 0 1 0 0
O.S.C.A.  Italy 19511953, 1958 7 4 5 11 0 0 0 0 0 0
Osella  Italy 19801990 172 132 17 253 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
Pacific  United Kingdom 19941995 33 22 5 66 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Parnelli  United States 19741976 16 16 1 16 0 6 0 1 0 0 0
Penske  United States 19741977 41 40 7 46 1 23 0 0 3 0 0
Porsche  Germany 19571964 36 33 13 75 1 46 1 0 5 0 0
Prost  France 19972001 83 83 9 166 0 35 0 0 3 0 0
RAM  United Kingdom 19831985 44 31 8 73 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Racing Point Force India  United Kingdom 2018 9 9 2 18 0 52 0 0 0 0 0
Racing Point  United Kingdom 20192020 38 38 3 76 1 268 1 0 4 0 0
RE  Rhodesia 1965 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Renault  France,
 United Kingdom
19771985,
20022011,
20162020
403 400 26 788 35 1777 51 33 103 2 2
Rebaque  Mexico 1979 3 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rial  Germany 19881989 32 21 6 48 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
Scarab  United States 1960 5 2 4 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Scirocco  United Kingdom 19631964 7 5 3 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Shadow  United States,
 United Kingdom
19731980 112 103 21 240 1 67.5 3 2 7 0 0
Shannon  United Kingdom 1966 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Simca-Gordini  France 19501953 15 14 11 29 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Simtek  United Kingdom 19941995 21 21 7 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Spirit  United Kingdom 19831985 25 23 3 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Spyker  Netherlands 2007 17 17 4 34 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Stebro  Canada 1963 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Stewart  United Kingdom 19971999 49 49 4 98 1 47 1 0 5 0 0
Super Aguri  Japan 20062008 39 39 5 39 0 4 0 0 0 0 0
Surtees  United Kingdom 19701978 119 118 38 260 0 53 0 3 2 0 0
SVA  Italy 1950 1 0 1 1 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Talbot-Lago  France 19501951 13 13 18 81 0 n/a 0 0 2 n/a 0
Tec-Mec  United States 1959 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tecno  Italy 19721973 12 10 3 14 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Theodore  Hong Kong 1978, 19811983 51 34 10 64 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Token  United Kingdom 1974 4 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Toleman  United Kingdom 19811985 70 53 9 131 0 26 1 2 3 0 0
Toro Rosso  Italy 20062019 268 268 14 536 1 500 1 1 3 0 0
Toyota  Japan 20022009 140 139 9 276 0 278.5 3 3 13 0 0
Trojan  United Kingdom 1974 8 6 1 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tyrrell  United Kingdom 19701998 433 430 47 884 23 617 14 20 77 1 2
Vanwall  United Kingdom 19541960 29 28 12 66 9 48 7 6 13 1 0
Venturi  France 1992 16 16 2 32 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Veritas  Germany 19511953 6 6 15 18 0 n/a 0 0 0 n/a 0
Virgin  United Kingdom,
 Russia
20102011 38 38 3 76 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wolf (Walter Wolf Racing)  Canada 19771979 48 47 4 54 3 79 1 2 13 0 0
Zakspeed  Germany 19851989 74 54 7 136 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Constructor Licensed in Seasons Races Entered Races Started Drivers Total Entries Wins Points Poles FL Podiums WCC WDC

Indianapolis 500 Only Constructors

From 1950 to 1960, the Indianapolis 500 race was part of the Formula One World Championship. Here are constructors who only raced in the Indianapolis 500 during that time. All of them were based in the United States.

  • Adams
  • Bromme
  • Christensen
  • Emil Diedt
  • Frank Del Roy
  • Dunn
  • Elder
  • Quin Epperly
  • Wayne Ewing
  • Hall
  • Eddie Kuzma
  • Langley
  • Lesovsky
  • Carl Marchese
  • Meskowski
  • Lou Moore
  • Nichels
  • Olson
  • Pankratz
  • Pawl
  • Phillips
  • Rae
  • Schroeder
  • Sherman
  • Russ Snowberger
  • Stevens
  • Sutton
  • Trevis
  • Turner
  • A. J. Watson
  • Wetteroth

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See also

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